Craic the Lens "Cannon" Self-released
Release date: June 5, 2014
Running time: 38:06, 10 songs
Canada is a gold mine for Celtic music. If we focus on Celtic rock and Celtic punk, there is a big diversity of bands hailing from Canadian provinces. When we hear about a Canadian Celtic/Folk rock band, we immediately think about the Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. Even about British Columbia and Ontario. But there are also amazing bands coming from Manitoba or Alberta. The most important band from Alberta would be Captain Tractor. But in the last years new bands are arising from this area. Recently I reviewed the second album by Whiskey Wagon and now it’s Craic the Lens turn.
Craic the Lens hail from Calgary and currently they are our Band of The Month. Back in 1997 I was excited when I heard a “Mary Mac” cover from a Cooking Vinyl sampler. The band was called Great Big Sea. I got a similar feeling when I came across Craic the Lens and listened to “The Jig is Up”, one of the best songs of the year. All the songs on “The Cannon” don’t follow the same path, but the Canadian stamp can be felt on every single number.
As I have already mentioned, the opening number “The Jig is Up” is a hit. Fans who enjoy The Stanfields will love this song too. It’s followed by an upbeat cover of Dominic Behan’s “Come Out Ye Black and Tans”.
Craic the Lens move to a quieter mood on the next track, “As Dust” . This song gets an Oysterband treatment with catchy la-la-la chorus. The next song moves to Great Big Sea’s territory, the awesome number “Tip Your Hat to Broken Crowns”.
Track number 5, another kick-ass number, is a Spirit of The West infused song: “Drawn and Quartered”. The following song is titled “Play White Noise” and is one of the highlights on the album. It’s a brilliant duet with Christina Lackowitz.
The next songs have a Celtic rock twist. “Gallowglass” would be a powerful song in The Stanfields vein and “Same Old Song and Dance” a cross between Great Big Sea and Fiddler’s Wage.
The album ends with the catchy number “The Novel of the Century” and “Sleeps so Easy”, an excellent song with a Weddings Parties Anything touch via The Swinish Multitude.
“The Cannon” is not your usual Celtic rock album. There is banjo, but neither accordion nor fiddle. There are no bagpipes. But don’t be misled, Craic The Lens “The Cannon” is a top-notch album. The Canadian DNA is stuck on every single song and this should be enough to convince you. The best balance of pedigree and fine songwriting. Go ahead and grab you a copy
Tracklist:
01 - The Jig Is Up 3:20
02 - Come Out Ye Black and Tans 3:13
03 - As Dust Craic the Lens 3:16
04 - Tip Your Hat to Broken Crowns 3:41
05 - Drawn and Quartered 4:22
06 - Play White Noise 2:58
07 - Gallowglass 4:45
08 - Same Old Song and Dance 3:40
09 - The Novel of the Century 5:19
10 - Sleeps so Easy 3:08
Website
Facebook
Reverbnation
Twitter
Sonicbids
Soundcloud
CBC Music
MusicYCC
Click to buy:
CDbaby
iTunes
Amazon
Review by Kinksmarkham
Release date: June 5, 2014
Running time: 38:06, 10 songs
Canada is a gold mine for Celtic music. If we focus on Celtic rock and Celtic punk, there is a big diversity of bands hailing from Canadian provinces. When we hear about a Canadian Celtic/Folk rock band, we immediately think about the Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. Even about British Columbia and Ontario. But there are also amazing bands coming from Manitoba or Alberta. The most important band from Alberta would be Captain Tractor. But in the last years new bands are arising from this area. Recently I reviewed the second album by Whiskey Wagon and now it’s Craic the Lens turn.
Craic the Lens hail from Calgary and currently they are our Band of The Month. Back in 1997 I was excited when I heard a “Mary Mac” cover from a Cooking Vinyl sampler. The band was called Great Big Sea. I got a similar feeling when I came across Craic the Lens and listened to “The Jig is Up”, one of the best songs of the year. All the songs on “The Cannon” don’t follow the same path, but the Canadian stamp can be felt on every single number.
As I have already mentioned, the opening number “The Jig is Up” is a hit. Fans who enjoy The Stanfields will love this song too. It’s followed by an upbeat cover of Dominic Behan’s “Come Out Ye Black and Tans”.
Craic the Lens move to a quieter mood on the next track, “As Dust” . This song gets an Oysterband treatment with catchy la-la-la chorus. The next song moves to Great Big Sea’s territory, the awesome number “Tip Your Hat to Broken Crowns”.
Track number 5, another kick-ass number, is a Spirit of The West infused song: “Drawn and Quartered”. The following song is titled “Play White Noise” and is one of the highlights on the album. It’s a brilliant duet with Christina Lackowitz.
The next songs have a Celtic rock twist. “Gallowglass” would be a powerful song in The Stanfields vein and “Same Old Song and Dance” a cross between Great Big Sea and Fiddler’s Wage.
The album ends with the catchy number “The Novel of the Century” and “Sleeps so Easy”, an excellent song with a Weddings Parties Anything touch via The Swinish Multitude.
“The Cannon” is not your usual Celtic rock album. There is banjo, but neither accordion nor fiddle. There are no bagpipes. But don’t be misled, Craic The Lens “The Cannon” is a top-notch album. The Canadian DNA is stuck on every single song and this should be enough to convince you. The best balance of pedigree and fine songwriting. Go ahead and grab you a copy
Tracklist:
01 - The Jig Is Up 3:20
02 - Come Out Ye Black and Tans 3:13
03 - As Dust Craic the Lens 3:16
04 - Tip Your Hat to Broken Crowns 3:41
05 - Drawn and Quartered 4:22
06 - Play White Noise 2:58
07 - Gallowglass 4:45
08 - Same Old Song and Dance 3:40
09 - The Novel of the Century 5:19
10 - Sleeps so Easy 3:08
Website
Reverbnation
Sonicbids
Soundcloud
CBC Music
MusicYCC
Click to buy:
CDbaby
iTunes
Amazon
Review by Kinksmarkham
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